Last updated at 14:40, Tuesday, 26 June 2012

OFFICE workers took a screen break to enjoy a game of rounders as part of a national drive to get employees active during the working day.

EXERCISE: From left, senior fitness adviser Matthew Lippett and physiotherapists James Holland and Darren Collin who held a Work out at Work event at the physiotherapy gym, based at Hoops Gym, Barrow. The event was organised by Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust and was one of many centres taking part in the national day LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50035082B000

Barrow NHS staff swapped their shoes for trainers to get involved in the Work out at Work Day in their lunch hour at Hoops Gym in Barrow.

The event was held in connection with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s bid to promote health at work, reduce sickness costs for businesses and cut treatment costs for the NHS.

In the UK, musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, account for nearly a third of the time taken off sick from work – at a cost of around £7.4bn a year.

In addition, companies lose up to £15bn a year where staff are at work, but unable to work to their maximum because they are unwell or in poor health.

Darren Collin, specialist physiotherapist at Abbey Road Clinic in Barrow, helped organise the event. He said: “It went really well and the feedback was very positive. Hopefully, the people who came will get out at lunchtimes and become more active during the working day.

“Hopefully, we can run future events and try to get into other workplaces and do more with employers to make them more aware of the benefits.”

Mr Collin offered some simple steps for employees to follow at work.

Where possible, workers should get out of the office to walk for 15 to 20 minutes.

When in the office, employees should get up from their chair every half an hour to avoid causing damage to their back.

People should also sit with their computer screen at the right level and, where possible, wear head sets to avoid awkwardly pushing the handset against their shoulder.

First published at 13:47, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk